YouOS was a
web desktop A web desktop or webtop is a desktop environment embedded in a web browser or similar client application. A webtop integrates web applications, web services, client–server applications, application servers, and applications on the local client i ...
and
web integrated development environment
An integrated development environment (IDE) is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. An IDE normally consists of at least a source code editor, build automation tools and ...
, developed by Webshaka until June 2008.
From 2006 to 2008 YouOS replicated the
desktop environment
In computing, a desktop environment (DE) is an implementation of the desktop metaphor made of a bundle of programs running on top of a computer operating system that share a common graphical user interface (GUI), sometimes described as a graphica ...
of a modern
operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.
Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also in ...
on a
webpage, using
JavaScript
JavaScript (), often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. As of 2022, 98% of Website, websites use JavaScript on the Client (computing), client side ...
to communicate with the remote
server
Server may refer to:
Computing
*Server (computing), a computer program or a device that provides functionality for other programs or devices, called clients
Role
* Waiting staff, those who work at a restaurant or a bar attending customers and su ...
. This allowed users to save their current desktop state to return to later, much like the
hibernation feature in many true operating systems, and for multiple users to collaborate using a single environment. YouOS featured built-in
sharing
Sharing is the joint use of a resource or space. It is also the process of dividing and distributing. In its narrow sense, it refers to joint or alternating use of inherently finite goods, such as a common pasture or a shared residence. Still ...
of music, documents and other files. The software was in
alpha
Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ἄλφα, ''álpha'', or ell, άλφα, álfa) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of one. Alpha is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph , whic ...
stage, and was referred to as a "web operating system" by WebShaka.
An
application programming interface
An application programming interface (API) is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how t ...
and an
IDE (integrated development environment) were in development.
Over 700 applications were created using this API.
In 2006, YouOS was listed on the 7th position of
PC World's list of "The 20 Most Innovative Products of the Year".
YouOS was shut down on July 30, 2008 because the developers had not actively developed it since November 2006. They have since moved on to other projects.
YouOS (winter 07) shutting down? , Hacker News
News.ycombinator.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-29.
The domain youos.com domain name was acquired by a German startup company, Dynacrowd, in May 2015. The project name YouOS now represents a mobile platform for hyperlocal interaction used to operate the German refugee assistance system AngelaApp.
Parent Company
Webshaka was a messaging company most notable for making YouOS. It was founded by Samuel Hsiung, Jeff Mullen, Srini Panguluri and Joseph Wong.
References
{{Reflist
External links
YouOS web site
Web desktops